Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Fracking

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that regulations governing the exploitation on a significant scale of shale gas by fracking will be robust and will not permit an unacceptable level of self-regulation.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Shale companies need permission from independent expert regulators before any hydraulic fracturing operations can begin:- A licence for onshore oil and gas exploration is required from the Oil and Gas Authority- Planning permission is required from the local Mineral Planning Authority- Permits to operate a site are required from the Environment Agency- Safety on a drilling site and standards of well construction are regulated by the Health and Safety Executive- A drilling consent is also required from the Oil and Gas AuthorityWe are confident that we have a robust regulatory regime in place. The Government will keep the regulatory regime for shale under review as the industry develops to ensure it is proportionate and fit for purpose.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of India about allowing a delegation of members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir for a fact-finding visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the immediate future.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our missions across the globe have received many successful and worthwhile APPG visits by Parliamentarians with a strong record of interest in the relevant country. As with the British public, we encourage all Parliamentarians to study FCO travel advice when planning any travel. The FCO currently advises against all travel to certain parts of Kashmir.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU Enlargement

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 November 2015 (HL3593), whether it is their policy to continue the UK–Germany Initiative on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government remains firmly committed to the initiative, now adopted by the EU, designed to inject momentum into Bosnia and Herzegovina's stalling reform process. We continue to work closely with EU, and other international partners, in order to help build a more stable, secure and prosperous BiH.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Baroness Helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the security and political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the planned referendum in the entity of Republika Srpska on 25 September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government remains concerned about the increasing tensions over the Republika Srpska referendum planned for 25 September. We, together with international partners, are calling on all parties to find a way forward that is line with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution and the Constitutional Court’s rulings.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks regarding litigation over the Balfour Declaration made by the Foreign Affairs Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority, what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding a return to direct negotiations without preconditions between it and the government of Israel.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have discussed the remarks about litigation with Palestinian officials and politicians. We continue to urge a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although we have not called for a return to direct bilateral negotiations without preconditions. The UK’s vision for a future two-state solution is clear. It should be based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and with a just, fair and agreed settlement for refugees.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Palmer of Childs Hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks made by the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian Authority calling for legal action against the UK over the Balfour Declaration, what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding the delegitimising of the State of Israel.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have discussed the remarks with Palestinian officials and politicians.

Genocide

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 19 July (HL1204), whether they will now list the competent courts that can recognise genocide.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We continue to believe that recognition of genocide should be a matter for competent courts, decided by judges after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible judicial process. A recent example was in March 2016, when the Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted Radovan Karadžić of one count of genocide (along with other crimes) and sentenced him to forty years imprisonment. The UK is fully committed to the principle that there must be no impunity for the most serious international crimes.

Turkey: Press Freedom

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect on relations between the UK and Turkey of the closure of media outlets in Turkey following the attempted coup of 15 July.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Following the failed coup on 15 July the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan), travelled to Ankara on 20 and 21 July to express the Government's support for Turkey's democratically elected government. He also emphasised to senior politicians the need for Turkey to adhere to international human rights obligations in the aftermath of the coup and during the imposition of a state of emergency, including press freedom and the rule of law. The Government continues to follow events there closely.

India: Minority Groups

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of violence against Dalits and minorities in India, and what discussions they have had with the government of India about that issue.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: India has a strong democratic framework, robust and independent institutions and its constitution guarantees fundamental human rights. However, it also faces numerous challenges relating to its size and social and economic development. We welcome Prime Minister Modi’s comments on 6 August when he spoke against “cow vigilantes” attacking minority groups and urged state governments in India to investigate such attacks.The UK discusses a wide range of matters with India, including religious tolerance and minority rights, both bilaterally and through the EU. The former Prime Minister (The Right Hon. David Cameron) discussed human rights with Prime Minister Modi in November 2015. Mr Modi reaffirmed his commitment and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and freedoms; points which he also stressed in his speech in Parliament on 12 November 2015.The British High Commission in India discusses the treatment of minorities with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with state governments across India. They are in regular contact with civil society organisations working on the protection of minority rights across India, including key issues for minorities such as freedom of religious belief.

India: Dalits

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of India’s National Crime Records Bureau that, in a three-year period there was an almost 40 per cent increase of crime against Dalits throughout India; that in 2015, in Gujarat, there was a 163.3 per cent increase in crime against Dalits; and that sexual assaults against women and rape are listed as the top crimes against scheduled castes.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: India has a strong democratic framework, independent and accountable law enforcement and judicial institutions. Its constitution guarantees fundamental human rights. However, it also faces numerous challenges relating to its size and social and economic development.We are aware of the particular concerns around violence against minority groups and women and girls in India. We are committed to working with the Government of India, international partners and civil society groups on these important issues.The British High Commission works with civil society and government bodies on projects which provide advice to lawyers and grassroots organisations that directly support the protection of minorities and Dalits. For example, we support a project which helps survivors of sexual violence understand their legal rights in the Indian criminal justice system. UK Government-funded training has helped to empower over 1000 Dalit women and men to exercise their legal rights. In November 2015, I met a group of senior Indian women advocates to discuss the challenges faced by women in India and how the UK Government could support their efforts to strengthen enforcement of the law.

India: Minority Groups

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Joint Statement of UK anti-caste organisations submitted on 18 August to the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the United National Human Rights Commissioner and the UN Secretary General, and whether they will press for those British organisations that submitted the Joint Statement to be given the opportunity to express their concerns to the United Nations office in Geneva and to report on the condition of Dalits and minorities in India.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have received the Joint Statement from the Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance (ACDA) and will respond. We are aware of the particular concerns raised around minority rights highlighted by the ACDA.

North Korea: Guided Weapons

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following North Korea’s launch of three ballistic missiles on 5 September, the UN Security Council will be convened to consider the implications of that launch and an international response.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UN Security Council (UNSC) met on 6 September to discuss a response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) ballistic missiles launches on 5 September. The UNSC subsequently issued a statement condemning these launches as a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolutions. The UK strongly supports this statement, as we have with previous UNSC statements condemning DPRK provocations in 2016. We will continue to discuss at the UNSC, and with close partners, further measures in response to the DPRK’s destabilising and provocative actions.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Ministers of Religion

The Lord Bishop of Rochester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the publication of the review of Islamist extremism in prisons and the probation and youth justice services, in what ways they plan to change the vetting of prison chaplains and build on existing good practice, including vetting to counter-terrorism level.

Lord Keen of Elie: Prison chaplains of all faiths make a valuable contribution to offender management, both in the provision of pastoral care and theological education, and as a safeguard against the spread of extremist ideologies. There are established pre-appointment checks in place for all prison chaplaincy positions, including Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance and the scrutiny of professional credentials. The Government response to the review into Islamist Extremism included a commitment to strengthen the due diligence process for the recruitment of prison chaplains. This policy is still being developed, and will supplement rather than replace existing arrangements. The checks can be applied to all prospective prison chaplains, of any faith, before a final offer of employment is made.

Prisoners: Radicalism

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Offender Management Service plan to adopt a regime based on isolation and solitary confinement for all those Muslim prisoners who are assessed as posing a risk of encouraging Islamic radicalisation whilst in prison.

Lord Keen of Elie: The government is committed to tackling all forms of extremism. Keeping the most dangerous extremists away from other prisoners is essential to the safe running of our prisons and fundamental to public protection. Planning is under way to create specialist units within the high security estate to allow greater separation and specialised management of extremists who pose the highest risk to other prisoners. The regime of the new units will not be based on isolation or solitary confinement but on removing a small subset of the most dangerous and subversive radicalisers from the mainstream prisoner population.

Department for Work and Pensions

State Retirement Pensions: Males

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of men now aged between 58 and 62 inclusive who are aware that they will not receive their state pension when they reach their 65th birthday.

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the number of women now aged between 58 and 62 inclusive who are aware of their correct state pension age.

Lord Freud: No estimate is held on the number of men that are currently aware of the increases to State Pension age. However, all men affected by the State Pension age increase in the Pensions Act 2011 were written to between January 2012 and November 2013 using the addresses held by HMRC at the time. The Department does not hold a specific estimate on the number of women that are aware of their state pension age. We wrote to all women affected by the Pensions Act 2011 in the age range specified between January 2012 and November 2013 using the addresses held by HMRC at the time. In 2004, a DWP survey found that 73 per cent of people aged 45 to 54 (so aged 57 to 66 in 2016) were aware of the future increase in Women’s State Pension age. In 2006, 86 per cent of women aged 55-64 (so aged 65 to 74 in 2016) and 90 per cent aged 45-54 (so aged 55 to 64 in 2016) were aware that the State Pension age will increase in future. In 2012, a similar survey found that only 6% of respondents thought their State Pension Age was 60.

State Retirement Pensions

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters they have written to (1) women, and (2) men, to inform them of changes to their state pension age; of those letters sent out, how many were returned undelivered; and when letters were returned undelivered, what efforts they then made to contact those individuals.

Lord Freud: Between April 2009 and March 2011, the Department mailed all women born between 6th April 1950 and 5th April 1953, informing them of their State Pension age under the 1995 Pensions Act. This involved sending 1.16 million letters to the affected females. Following the 2011 changes DWP wrote to all individuals directly affected to inform them of the change to their State Pension age. This applied to women born between 6th April 1953 and the 5th of April 1960 and men born between 6th December 1953 and 5th April 1960. These letters were sent between January 2012 and November 2013. This involved sending 5.77 million letters to the affected males and females. We do not have the total number of letters returned undelivered over the course of all the exercises. However, I can confirm we have a robust process in place to review all incorrect address returns and properly scrutinise and update customer account details when an address is confirmed. For State Pension customers, this process includes re-establishing contact through Local Authority Social Services or a DWP Visiting Officer.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the number of women who were unaware in (1) 2011, (2) 2012 and (3) 2013, that thePensions Act 1995 had changed their state pension age from 60.

Lord Freud: The Department does not hold a specific estimate on the number of women that are unaware of their state pension age. We wrote to all women affected by the Pensions Act 1995 between April 2009 and March 2011 using the addresses held by HMRC at the time. In 2004, a DWP survey found that 73 per cent of people aged 45 to 54 (so aged 57 to 66 in 2016) were aware of the future increase in Women’s State Pension age. In 2006, 86 per cent of women aged 55-64 (so aged 65 to 74 in 2016) and 90 per cent aged 45-54 (so aged 55 to 64 in 2016) were aware that the State Pension age will increase in future. In 2012, a similar survey found that only 6% of respondents thought their State Pension Age was 60.

State Retirement Pensions

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts they have made to inform people what their individual state pension age will be (1) directly using individual letters, and (2) indirectly such as through a national high-profile advertising campaign.

Lord Freud: The Government has provided information in order for all individuals to be able to find out their State Pension age and conditions of their benefits. For example, following the Pensions Act 1995, State Pension estimates, issued to individuals on request, made the changes clear. Following the 2011 changes, which brought about faster equalisation of men’s and women’s State Pension ages and accelerated the timetable for the rise to 66, DWP wrote to all individuals directly affected to inform them of the change to their State Pension age, using the address details recorded by HMRC at the time. Information on State Pension age changes and who they affect is also available on GOV.UK, and the online State Pension age calculator gives individuals a quick and simple way to check when they will reach State Pension age. As part of a national advertising campaign about the changes to the State Pension from 6 April 2016, we encouraged people to find out about their State Pension age. Between August 2015 and April 2016, there were 1.6m visits to the campaign page GOV.UK/yourstatepension. Between February 2016 and April 2016 the State Pension age calculator was used 2.3 million times. The campaign directs people to our new online Check your State Pension service where individual personal State Pension forecasts can be viewed. Over a million forecasts have been viewed since the service launched in February 2016. We have committed to completing a review of the State Pension age by May 2017. As part of our on-going no-cost media activity on the issue, the launch of the review, for example, was the front page of a number of national newspapers.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters the Department for Work and Pensions has received from Members of Parliament since May 2015 on behalf of women who have complained about the impact of an increase in their state pension age.

Lord Freud: The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Occupational Pensions: Tax Allowances

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the Department for Work and Pensions has taken to inform employers and pension scheme members of the implications for those on low pay of using a net-pay scheme rather than a relief-at-source scheme that adds the tax relief due.

Lord Freud: Pensions’ taxation is a matter for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. The noble Baroness may, however, find it helpful to note that the Pensions Regulator’s website provides comprehensive guidance for employers about their duties under workplace pensions’ legislation. This guidance covers pension scheme choice and the implications for an employer’s workforce of net-pay arrangements and relief-at-source schemes.

Pension Protection Fund

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many non-associated multi-employer defined benefit pension schemes in the UK are covered by the Pension Protection Fund, and what estimate they have made of the total number of employers in those schemes.

Lord Freud: As at 31 March 2016, there were 26 non-associated multi-employer schemes, with a total of 5,060 participating employers between them which are covered by the Pension Protection Fund.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Starter Home Initiative

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the total cost, by 2020, of the discounts available under the starter homes scheme created by the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The 2015 Conservative manifesto had the clear objective to build affordable homes, including Starter Homes to support young people into home ownership. They will be sold at a minimum 20 per cent discount on open market value and for no more than the price cap of £250,000 (£450,000 in London). The amount of discount will vary according to local property prices.

Starter Home Initiative

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the total untaxed capital gains that will accrue to the beneficiaries of the starter homes scheme by 2020, taking into account the discount and any anticipated rise in house values.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The 2015 Conservative manifesto had the clear objective to build affordable homes, including Starter Homes to support young people into home ownership. They will be sold at a minimum 20 per cent discount on open market value and for no more than the price cap of £250,000 (£450,000 in London). The amount of discount will vary according to local property prices. No separate assessment on capital gains has been made.

Building Regulations

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the guidance issued under the Building Regulations 2010, in particular that guidance relating to fire safety.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government is considering a number of issues related to the Building Regulations 2010 and building control system matters in England. We will make an announcement about our plans in due course.

Housing: Construction

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the emerging findings of the Local Government Association’s Housing Commission report Building our Homes: communities and the future.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: We welcome the work which the Local Government Association is doing to meet our shared aims of delivering the homes which communities need, and creating a housing market that works for everyone. Many of our existing measures will help to achieve those aims.The government has already doubled the housing budget to help deliver a million homes and double the number of first time buyers. We have allocated £8 billion to deliver 400,000 affordable homes, including shared ownership, starter homes and homes for affordable rent. This government and its predecessor have pursued a wide range of actions to improve the speed of the planning process, and we are taking steps to diversify the market.We look forward to reading the full report, and engaging with the Local Government Association on existing and future policies.

Council Tax: Referendums

Lord Porter of Spalding: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of extending the council tax referendum provisions introduced by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 to include levying bodies such as Internal Drainage Boards on (1) the ability of local authorities to raise revenue through council tax or the delivery of their statutory functions, and (2) the ability of Internal Drainage Boards to deliver flood defence and land drainage activities.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The referendum threshold is not a cap - councils can set any council tax increase they like provided they obtain the consent of their local electorate in a referendum. Including levying bodies in the council tax referendum legislation increases the transparency and accountability of public bodies for their tax-raising and spending decisions. Local authorities and their levying bodies had shown that they can work together to cut costs and improve services, and this measure placed all local authorities on a common footing when setting council tax.

Local Government: Land

Baroness Ford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many requests have been received from local authorities in the last three years for permission to sell land at undervalue under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972; and whether those requests were granted or refused.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Secretary of State has received 41 requests from local authorities since September 2013 for permission to sell land at undervalue under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972. Of the requests received, 25 were granted, 6 were withdrawn, and 7 considered to be either invalid or the Secretary of State declined to determine. The remaining 3 cases are currently under consideration.

Government Departments: Land

Baroness Ford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much public land held by central government departments and their agencies has been disposed of for house building since 2012, broken down by department.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government is committed to addressing the supply of new land for housing. That is why we have set an ambitious commitment to dispose of surplus government-owned land in England with the capacity for at least 160,000 homes by 2020.As of the end of June, central government departments and their agencies had identified enough land for approximately 139,000 homes. Of this, land with the capacity for an estimated 11,691 homes has already been disposed of. We will be publishing an annual report setting out detailed progress towards the commitment later this year, and will also monitor the broad progress of development on sites released through the programme. The report will include data showing land released for housing since 2012, broken down by department.This builds on our previous Public Sector Land programme in the last Parliament, where between 2011 and 2015, central government departments and their agencies disposed of land with capacity for 109,590 homes.

Derelict Land

Baroness Ford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the target date for the 73 councils across England to complete their brownfield registers.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The local planning authorities piloting the preparation of local brownfield registers were asked to complete their registers by the end of June 2016.

Landlords: Licensing

Baroness Ford: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities (1) have applied for Secretary of State consent for discretionary landlord licensing schemes since new rules were introduced in 2015, and (2) have applications pending.

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Since April 2015, my Department has received three large selective licensing applications from the following local authorities: London Borough of Redbridge, Burnley Borough Council and Peterborough City Council. There are currently no applications pending.

Department of Health

Drugs: Licensing

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the paper presented to members of the Ethical Medicines Industry Group on 5 September, stating that new drugs and treatments can be made available to UK patients more quickly once the UK has left the EU; and what preparations they are making to ensure that the UK can more rapidly approve medicines once the UK has left the EU.

Lord Prior of Brampton: Nothing will change overnight as a result of the European Union referendum decision.The United Kingdom remains a member of the EU until Article 50 negotiations have concluded. EU law continues to apply and ongoing compliance with EU law is considered important in facilitating orderly transition, for negotiating purposes, and to offer certainty in the meantime. As long as the UK is subject to EU law, the present arrangements remain in place.